Sons & Grandsons of Westmoreland County, Part 2
Written, Compiled & Edited by K. R. Overholt Critchfield, © 1-1-2007
~~ Updated 7-31-07 ~~

Samuel Dillinger
Son of Daniel Dillinger & Mary Myers;
Son-in-law of Peter Loucks & Anna Overholt (daughter of Henry Oberholtzer & Anna Beitler);
Husband of Sarah Loucks;
Father of nine children.

[History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, edited by George Dallas Albert (1882); pp. 686-687.]

THE DILLINGER FAMILY - BETHANY STATION.

Daniel Dillinger was born, Aug. 6, 1787, in the east part of the State, and came to this county at an early period, settling at Bethany, on the farm now owned by his son Samuel, and occupied by Moses Hickson. He died Feb. 9, 1845, aged fifty-seven years, and his wife (Mary Myers) June 19, 1871, aged eighty-one. She was born in Lancaster County. Their children were Daniel, Christian, Joseph, Jacob, Samuel, Daniel, Abraham, Elizabeth, married to Alexander Myers; Sarah, to Michael Sheetz; and Mary, first to John McCollum, and afterwards to John Billheimer.

Of these Samuel Dillinger was born Oct. 28, 1810, and married Sarah Loucks, born in 1808. He moved to his home farm in 1832, before which, after his marriage, he lived near Scottdale. Their children were: Annie, married to Joseph Hickson, and deceased; Mary, married to Abraham Sherrick; Catharine, married to Moses Hickson; Sarah, married to J.C. Fox; John L., married to Mary McIntyre; Elizabeth, married to C.T. Hanna; Eliza, married to A.A. Hasson; Daniel L.; Samuel L., married to Katie Hutchinson.

About 1830, Samuel Dillinger started a small still on his farm in 1851, and in 1852 erected a frame distillery at Old Bethany (West Bethany post-office), to which in 1856 he added a grist-mill, which was operated until 1881, when destroyed by fire. The same Mr. Dillinger, with his two sons, Daniel L. and Samuel, erected a new three-story frame distillery at Bethany Station, and began distilling in March, 1882.
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~~ Engraved by Samuel Sartain. Phil. ~~

The Old Homestead Farm & Residence of Samuel Dillinger
Residence of Daniel L. Dillinger
Flouring Mill & Distillery of S. Dillinger & Sons
West Bethany, Westmoreland County, PA
http://www.anthracitemaps.com/

The firm of S. Dillinger & Sons manufacture pure rye whiskey, the only rye distillery now in operation in the township. It has a capacity for two hundred bushels a day. Its market is Pittsburgh and the East. All its grain is purchased in the West. Mr. Dillinger owns nearly a thousand acres of land in the township, half of which is full of undeveloped coal. They have at Tarr’s Station sixty-four coke-ovens, and fifty-one at Hawkeye Station. The former were erected in 1879, and the latter in 1871. This firm does a very extensive business in its distillery, coke-ovens, and flour trade.

Bethany Station is a growing village that arose nearly three years ago on the Dillingers establishing their coke-ovens, and is fast increasing in population and business. It lies a mile and a half northeast of Old Bethany and a mile northwest of Tarr’s Station. The Dillinger family is excelled by no other in the northern part of the township in amount of business done, and has ever been specially active in the cause of education, several of the best school-houses being built through the persistent energy of Samuel Dillinger, Sr. He was one of the projectors of the South Penn Railroad in 1870 and 1871, at which time he and his sons had seventy coke-ovens in Fayette County, at Pennsville, now owned by A.O. Tinstman, who purchased them in 1881. They employ at their two coke-works over a hundred men.

[History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, edited by George Dallas Albert (1882); p. 688]

Samuel Dillinger.

In the early part of the present century Samuel Dillinger, of whose family a genealogical sketch appears elsewhere in this volume, began his life-work, with no capital save a strong body, a stout heart, and willing hands. To any one who gazes upon his broad acres and busy manufacturing establishments today his success is manifest. Indeed, no one embodying his characteristics could fail. Owing to the fact that it was necessary for him to devote his youthful days to manual labor, his early education was very limited. This deficiency he supplied by diligent study during the spare moments of after-years.

His business education is of the very best, and was obtained from the business world by careful study of business men. While he has labored diligently to promote his individual interests, he has not been unmindful of his duties as a citizen. He has always taken a proper interest in politics, and has held the local offices usually intrusted to business men. The free-school system has ever found in him a true friend and liberal supporter. He has always taken an active interest in whatever contributed to increase the industries or develop the resources of the country. Benevolent and hospitable, the poor have always resorted to him confidently in their time of need.

His life has been one of usefulness, and commands the respect of those who know him. Although he has passed the allotted time of threescore and ten years, he is still vigorous in health, and enjoys the results of his years of toil, having committed the management of his large business interest to his sons. May 19, 1881, he and his wife, Sarah (Loucks) Dillinger, who has contributed so largely to her husband’s success by saving his earnings and making his home comfortable and happy, celebrated their golden wedding. Here were assembled their children and numerous grandchildren, together with the few who remain of the happy company which met more than half a century ago to bid them Godspeed through their wedded life. Both Mr. Dillinger and his wife possess many of the virtues of the sturdy race from which they sprang.

Karen's Note: See more about Samuel Dillinger in my feature, The Overholt-Dillinger Connection.
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[History of the County of Westmoreland, George D. Albert (1882), pp. 679-694.]

EAST HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP

ORGANIZATION.— BOUNDS.

EAST HUNTINGDON TOWNSHIP was organized by a subdivision of the original Huntingdon township, being taken from South Huntingdon in 1798.* It is bounded north by Hempfield,** east by Mount Pleasant, south by a part of Fayette County, and west by South Huntingdon. The township has a varied surface, and one continuous substratum of bituminous coal.

SETTLEMENT.

The first settlers in the township were Scotch-Irish from the eastern and northern counties of the State, among whom were John Vance, for many years a magistrate, William and Frank Vance, the Fosters, Barrs, Cochrans, McClains, and McCormicks.

From 1790 to 1800 a heavy immigration of Germans and Mennonites, the latter including some of Swiss birth, came, and these thrifty men fresh from the eastern part of the State, and all possessed of considerable means for those days, bought nearly all the lands occupied by the Scotch-Irish, and entered other tracts not then taken up. This last class were most settled between Stonersville and the Fayette County line. The Mennonites purchased about twenty-five thousand acres in this and other townships, their principal settlement being in and about Stonersville. They were from Chester, Bucks, Lancaster, Bedford, and Northumberland Counties. Among their leading men who located in East Huntingdon were Henry Overholt, Rev. David Funk, the Stauffers, Weltys, Peter Dillinger, Strohms, Ruths, Shupes, Fulkerths, Sherricks, Loucks, the Mumaws, Christian Stoner, the Tinmans [sic - Tinstman], Fretts [Fretz], and Foxes. The German Lutheran and Reformed settlers mostly located in the northwest part of the township. Among them were Mark Leighty, Henry Lowe, Henry Null, Joseph Suter, Nicholas Swope (for many years a justice of the peace), the Aultmans, Klines, Harbaughs, Ruffs, Snyders, and Hunkers.

Residence and Flouring Mill of J.R. & A. K. Stauffer
Tyrone Township, Fayette County, PA

The Stauffer family is one of the oldest in the township, and from it was given the name of "Stauffer’s Run," a stream rising above Stonersville and running south, emptying into Jacobs Creek at Scottdale. Abraham Stauffer came from Bucks County, and first settled near Scottdale, on the Fayette County side. His wife was a Miss Nisley, of Lebanon County (then Lancaster). Their son Abraham married Elizabeth Myers. The former died July 9, 1851, and the latter Nov. 11, 1878, aged ninety-five years, eleven months, and six days. They had three sons and three daughters, the latter being Mrs. Martin Loucks, Mary, married to Jacob Tinsman [sic - Tinstman], and Elizabeth, married to Jacob Harkless.

Among the earliest settlers near Scottdale were the Sterretts, a very influential family, a descendant of whom, John Sterrett, a prominent farmer, resides on his elegant farm a mile southwest of Scottdale. His grandfather was a cousin of Daniel Boone, and when the latter was removing to North Carolina (from which he was the first white man to penetrate into Kentucky) he passed through this region, and passed several days visiting his kinsmen, the Sterretts, at their new cabin home here.

EARLY SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS.

The early school-houses of East Huntingdon township were similar to those of other localities in the county, being built of rude logs, and having other appliances to correspond. One of the earliest houses known was built on the farm now owned by Joshua Gant, another was located on the farm now owned by Jacob Leighty. It was built in 1802, and taught by a German named Leighty, who always opened his school with singing and prayer, a practice which has been continued in some localities of this township up to the present time. Some of the early teachers were John Selby, Peter Showalter, A. St. Clair, John Baughtencarges, and others. Early action was taken in this township in regard to the acceptance of the free-school system. At an election held at the house of Peter Pool, Sept. 19, 1834, the following persons were elected school directors, viz.: Jacob Tinsman [sic] and Jacob Overholt, to serve until the next election in March; Solomon Luter and Peter Pool, for two years; Gasper Tarr and Henry Fretts, to serve for three years. This same set of directors met at the house of Christian Fox, Oct. 6, 1834, and after organizing appointed Jacob Tinsman [sic] as delegate, to meet other delegates in Greensburg the first Tuesday in November following, to perform such duties as were enjoined upon them by law to establish a general system of education. Agreeably to the time appointed by the general delegates at Greensburg, an election was held at the house of Peter Pool, May 21, 1836, in order to take the vote of the citizens whether there should be a tax levied or not; the result of said election was seventy-four voting no tax and two voting tax.

How the schools were kept open from 1834 to 1837 we have been unable to learn. We find, however, that directors were elected each year, viz.: Jacob Tinsman [sic] and Jacob Overholt, re-elected in 1835; John Stoner and A. Overholt, elected in 1836; and William McMaster and J. Fulkerth, in 1837. After this we find another election was ordered to take the voice of the citizens whether the schools should be continued or not. Said election was held at the house of Peter Pool, on the first Tuesday of May, 1837, fifty-six voting no school and thirty-four voting school. The law required that in order to defeat the system a majority of the citizens in the district must vote against it, and fifty-six not being that majority, the system was declared adopted.

Soon after this the directors began to sub-district the township and erect houses. In a few years after this the system began to gain favor, and at present in educational matters it is considered one of the foremost townships in the county. It has been extremely fortunate in always having good directors, who ever aimed to employ first-class teachers, and herein lies the cause of success in East Huntingdon. Blackboards were brought prominently into use in 1853. District institutes were organized in 1857, and have continued to be a leading feature of its schools ever since.

Among the prominent directors since 1840 were J.B. Sherrick, H.W. Stoner, S. Dillinger, H.S. Overholt, Maj. R. Warden, S. Warden, D. Snyder, and many other good names. Among the principal teachers have been J.B.R. Sherrick, D. McGinnis, John Sample, William Foster, John Harrold, etc. At a later date there have been as directors, J.S. Fretts, J.B. Stoner, J.S. Warden, John Sillaman, B. Hurst, H.R. Fox, and others; and teachers, J.D. Cope, P. Loucks, J. Sillaman, J. Chamberlain, J.H. Bryan, W.H. Morrow, etc.

Karen's Note: Here are a series of different articles lifted from the extensive material found in the East Huntingdon Township section. Mostly, I have chosen those that mention members of the Extended Overholt Family. My ambition has been to show something of the way of life, the interests and concerns of the people in the social context, as well as the "interests" and "concerns" of the people as pertains to their business enterprises. These two words appear to have been used mostly in terms of business in the old history books, so when the author writes that a man was "interested" in an industry, it probably meant he had invested money in it. With the following accounts (all puns intended!), it is easy to see that the people experiencing the 19th century in Western Pennsylvania were busy with a multitude of social concerns, but they were furiously busy with the heady "concerns" of business.

JACOBS CREEK METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH was organised with nineteen members in 1817, and its old log church erected the same year, and at that time was the only meeting-house of this denomination in all this region. Its present brick edifice was built during the late war, and is on the site of the old church, three-fourths of a mile southwest of Scottdale. It has the same pastor as the latter. Its trustees are John Keiser, Daniel Fretz, John Kell, Jacob Hall, and J.D. Porter, Sunday-school superintendent.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (SCOTTDALE). The congregation was organized in 1875, under the auspices of Rev. A.P. Leonard, of Jacobs Creek Church, three-fourths of a mile distant, southwest, of which it is the offspring. The pastors have been: 1875—77, A.P. Leonard; 1877—79, B.T. Thomas; 1879—82, D.N. Stafford. The latter was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, educated at Scio College, Harrison County, in that State, and has been seven years in the ministry. Up to the building of the present church services were held in rented churches and tabernacles. Its edifice, an elegant brick, two-story structure, sixty-two by forty-two feet, was erected in 1881. The first service was held therein November 27th of that year, and it was dedicated on December 18th following, when Rev. Samuel Wakefield, aged eighty-five years, preached the sermon. Its vestibule is eleven feet square and its tower one hundred and five feet high. Its architect was Peter S. Loucks. It is a station connected with Jacobs Creek Church. The trustees are Dr. A.W. Strickler, Thomas Tennant, James Jones, Peter Campbell, J.W. Wiley; and Sunday-school superintendent, Clark Grazier. Its membership is one hundred. It is the second and the Presbyterian the first brick church erected in the borough.

UNITED BRETHREN IN CHRIST (SCOTTDALE). This congregation was organized in 1874, and its neat frame edifice erected the, same year. Its pastors have been:, 1874—76, W.A. Jackson; 1876, Joseph Metzgar; 1877, David Speck; 1878, Martin O. Lane; 1879—82, Isaiah Potter. He also preaches at Walnut, Fayette. Co., Barren Run, at South Huntingdon township, and at Mount Nebo church, two miles northwest of Scottdale. The membership is fifty. The church officials are: Trustees, Albert Keister, Nathaniel King, Joseph Herbert; Class-leader, David Metzgar; Assistant, Peter Sherrick; Steward, Nathaniel King; and Sunday-school Superintendent, Jacob B. Sherrick.

THE MENNONITE CHURCH AND CEMETERY (STONERSVILLE). The first church building was a log structure, built in 1800, on the extreme lower corner of the graveyard. In 1840 it was replaced by the present substantial brick edifice. The first pastors were Revs. David Funk, Stauffer, and Welty, after whom were Henry Yetter, John Overholt, and Martin Loucks. For a good many years it has had no regular pastors, but has been supplied occasionally by ministers from a distance, perhaps as often as once a month. The membership is now quite small, as in the past two decades many have connected themselves with the Church of God and the United Brethren in Christ. The cemetery is now controlled by the Mennonite Cemetery Association, organized a few years ago.

[This "Mennonists" section comes from History of the County of Westmoreland, pp. 233-279.]

THE MENNONISTS— THEIR SETTLEMENT IN THE COUNTY.

The Mennonist Church is one of the fragments into which the mother-church of Rome was shivered by reforming hands in the Middle Ages, and is accordingly one of the many Protestant sects. The founder of the Mennonite— more preferably "Mennonist"— sect was Menno Simon, who was in Friesland in 1495 or ‘96, three years after the discovery of America by Columbus. He was contemporary with Luther, Zwinglius, Bucer, Calvin, Bullinger, and Melancthon. His doctrines were accepted by great numbers, who became persecuted, and largely dispersed into Prussia, Poland, Denmark, Holland, and Russia. In 1683 a number of Mennonist families came to America and settled in and about Germantown (now Philadelphia), and at subsequent times other bodies of them came and located near the original settlement. In 1736 five hundred settled in Lancaster County, and from this region they gradually dispersed into various States. In the last part of the eighteenth century the first Mennonist families settled in Westmoreland County, and as years rolled by its settlement received several additions from the Eastern hives. With an eye to plenty and prosperity, the Mennonist pioneers settled in East Huntingdon township, one of the most beautiful and fertile sections of the county, at the same time one rich in minerals. In the same valley, but across Jacobs Creek and in Fayette County, another settlement of Mennonists came. To this settlement came principally Lancaster County families, while to West Overton came generally families from Bucks County.

Among the subscribers to "The Christian Confession of Faith," published at Philadelphia in 1727, occur the surnames Kolb, Ziegler, Gorgas, Conerads, Hirchi, Bear, Bowman, Langenecker, Beghtly. These surnames are to be found in Westmoreland, with such phonetic changes as point unmistakably to their derivation from the former. Thus Kolb has become Culp and Gulp; Ziegler, Zigler; Conerad, Coonrad; Hirchi, Harshey and Hershey; Langenecker, Longnecker. In other documents occur the surnames Oberholtzer, now Oberholt; Kendigs, now Kintig; Miller, Funk, Bowman still the same in this county. In the original list of subscribers to this Confession of Faith, "done and finished in our united churches in the city of Dortrecht, 21st April, A.D. 1632," occur the surnames Jacobs, Willisemsen, now Williamson; Winkelmans, now Winkleman; Zimmerman, now the same, or translated into Carpenter; Shoomaker, now Shoe-, Shu- and Shoonmaker; Moyers, now the same, or Meyer, Meyers; Koenig, now King; Bom, now Baum; Claeson, now Clawson; Petersen, now Peterson; Segerts, now about the same; Haus, now pronounced Houtz; op de Graff, now Updegraff. Thus the connection is shown between the Westmoreland Mennonists. of the latter half of the nineteenth century and the Dortrecht, Utrecht, Leyden, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam Mennonists of more than two hundred years ago.

In this county the sect is on the decline. At one time their communicants were here numbered by hundreds, while now there are less than forty, and not one of these under the age of forty. The Mennonist Church is in East Huntingdon township (which chapter see for its history), about midway in a line running north and south between West Overton and Bethany, and about midway in a line running east and west between Mount Pleasant and Reagantown. Its last minister was John Overholt, who resided on the eastern flank of the hilly range that farther north in the county is the well-defined Randolph or Dry Ridge. Since their settlement here the Mennonists have been distinguished for their moral worth, thrift, industry, and intelligence, and no portion of the county excels the part originally settled by them and still almost entirely owned and occupied by their numerous and forehanded descendants.

Scottdale Rolling-Mill
Everson, Macrum & Co.

SCOTTDALE.

The Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad was completed as far as Scottdale in the spring of 1873, when the present site of the borough was farm lands. The town was laid out that year by Peter S. Loucks and his sister Catharine, on the south side of the Pittsburgh road, and by Jacob S. Loucks on the north side a short time later. Peter S. Loucks subsequently made two additions, one on the west and the other on the northeast, and Jacob S. one. After the Loucks laid out the original town Everson, McCrum & Co. made an addition out of land bought of the Loucks brothers. The town was the outgrowth of the railroad, and was very appropriately named in honor of its then celebrated president, Col. Thomas A. Scott. The first store opened here was by Livingood & Miller, and the second by Parker & Smith. The first house built after that was by James Kehoe, on Pittsburgh Street and still occupied by him. The next were Abe Bosier’s and John Rites’. The first hotel was kept by Lewis Stimple, and the second by Henry Branthoover. The first resident physician was Dr. C.D. Fortney, the next Dr. A. Rogers, followed by Dr. B.R. Mitchell; then came Dr. Robert McConaughy, who afterwards removed, and the last Dr. A.W. Strickler, who came from Fayette County in 1877. The only lawyer settled here is J.R. Smith, who came from Huntingdon County in 1881. The first magistrates were N.L.K. Kline and William G. Hays; the latter resigning was succeeded by T.W. Ault, who, with Joseph. K. Eicher (succeeding Kline) are the present incumbents. The two oldest persons in town are Col. Brinker and Thomas Kehoe. In the fall of 1872, Peter S. Loucks had laid out fourteen lots, and his brother, Jacob S., ten, thinking these would answer but in the following year such a demand arose for lots that they at once laid out the town regularly into a large number. Pittsburgh Street (road) was the division line between their two tracts. The first lots were sold in fall of 1872 (twenty-four), at one hundred and fifty dollars each, and were seventy-two by one hundred and fifty feet, since when several of them have sold at one thousand dollars. Subsequently a majority of the lots were one hundred and ten by thirty feet, and were sold at from one hundred and twenty-five to two hundred and fifty dollars each. About fifty acres of the land of the brothers Peter S. and Jacob S. Loucks and their sister Catherine went to make up the town. The "Fountain Mill" and distillery then stood where the furnace is, and was the property of W.A. Keifer. The houses of Peter S. Loucks, Jacob S. Loucks, and David F. Stoner (the latter built 1872-73) are in the limits of the borough, and were built before the town was laid out, but are not on the lots but are farm lands. P.C. Hockenbury, who has been a resident of this region since 1824, was the first saddler and harness-maker. When the old Fountain Mill was removed for the furnace it was the fourth mill. The first one, a log structure, was built about 1800 by a Mr. Hoke, and in 1822 the second one [mill], a frame building, was owned and operated by John W. Stauffer.

BOROUGH INCORPORATION AND OFFICERS. The borough of Scottdale was incorporated by the Court of Common Pleas in the winter of 1874. The first officers since 1874 have been:

BOROUGH SCHOOLS. Before 1878 the schools were held in a small frame school building of one room, located on the site, of the present two-story brick edifice, built in 1878. The first one was the property of the township, and was taken into the limits of the borough. The school board in January, 1882, consists of George H. Everson, president; Dr. A.W. Strickler, secretary; Jacob S. Loucks, treasurer; James Smith, Dr. B.R. Mitchell, and John Lott. The teachers are:

Room No. 1, E.P. Weddle, principal, succeeding E.H. Bair, resigned from sickness. No. 2, John Weddle; No. 3, H.R. Francis; No. 4, A.T. Fleming. The number of pupils is over two hundred, and the annual cost of running the schools is $1650.

SCOTTDALE BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION was organized April 24, 1876, with the following officers:

THE LECTURE ASSOCIATION. Officers for 1882 are: President, J.R. Stauffer; Secretary and Treasurer, E.A. McConn; Committee, E.H. Reid, George H. Everson, George H. Fulton, E.O. Humphries, J.D. Hill, Nathaniel Miles, T.F. Cummings.

VARIOUS BUSINESS AND MANUFACTURING INTERESTS. The extensive planing-mill and lumber manufactory of Ruth & Stoner was established in 1873 by Peter S. and Jacob S. Loucks. They operated it on a large scale until January, 1882, when Messrs. Ruth & Stoner leased it. It employs some fifteen hands in manufacturing doors, sash, joists, etc., used by them in building houses. The Loucks brothers in their nine years’ business erected many of the buildings in the town.

The Loucks brothers, Peter S. and Jacob S., have a large warehouse, in which they store grain, seeds, wool, etc., in the buying and selling of which they are extensively engaged.

In 1878, Zearley & Pool erected a planing-mill and lumber establishment, which E.H. Reid purchased and operated after them. It is now conducted by John H. Seivers, lessee of the property of Mr. Reid, and is situated on Broadway, one square from Pittsburgh Street. It employs some twenty hands, and procures its lumber from the West and Northern Pennsylvania. Since its erection, four years ago, it has built many buildings in the place. The largest store here is that of E.H. Reid, formerly owned by the Furnace Company, of whom Mr. Reid purchased some years since. He is an old merchant, having been in business nearly fifteen years at Broad Ford. Another large dry-goods store, etc., is that of J.S. Parker, successors of Parker & Smith, who started the second store in the place. There are two large hotels, and every kind of industry is well represented. There are no licensed places for the sale of spirituous or malt liquors in less quantities than the gallon or keg.

The private banking-house of J.S. Stauffer and P.S. Loucks, doing business as the Scottdale Bank, has just [c. 1882] been established in the borough. It proposes doing a general banking business, receiving deposits and making discounts. John M. Stauffer is cashier. The bank is located in Loucks’ Block, a new building, on Pittsburgh Street.

STONERSVILLE.

This town, a station on the South Penn Railroad, is on parts of the old tracts of land owned by Matthias Camp and Henry Fox. In 1800, when there was no building on the site of the present town, the Mennonite Church congregation purchased of Mr. Camp an acre and a half of ground, on which the same year they erected a log meeting-house, a school-house, and laid out a graveyard. This was the first start of the place. Shortly afterwards Christian Stoner erected a saw-mill, carding-machine, and fulling-mill on land purchased of Joseph Fulkerth. He also put up a cabinet-maker’s shop and made coffins, being the first undertaker in the township. Next was the erection of a log house on the old State road, on the Fulkerth land, east of the railroad, which was built along here in 1872. The opening of the railroad was the beginning of the place, which before was hardly a hamlet. That year Hurst, Stoner & Co., composed of Braden Hurst, B.B. Stoner, Mr. Shaw, and W.B. Neal, established their coke-works, now having seventy ovens. They laid out thirty lots along the State road. Their firm is the same now, but the partners are Braden Hurst, with Messrs. Rafferty and McClure. The next year S. Warden & Co. opened their coke-works and built twenty company buildings for their workmen. This company (three-fourths of whose stock is now owned by the Southwest Coal Company) have at present seventy-two ovens. The first physician here was the present practitioner, Dr. J.E. Rigg, who located in 1875. The State road, from Mount Pleasant to Smith’s Ferry, passed by its site, and on it a mile west of Stonersville a Mr. Keggy kept tavern several years before 1800, when Rev. David Funk purchased the place. The post-office was established June 1, 1877, and Braden Hurst appointed postmaster, who still holds the office. The present stores are kept by J.J. Hurst & Co. and Wil11am A. Byers, and the grocery by E.H. Trout.

THE SCHOOLS. The first school-house was a little rude log hut. It was torn down, and the second one erected, a small brick structure, in 1836. In this house the first teacher was a Mr. Lutis, an educated sea-captain from Germany. It being too small a new one was built (brick) in 1850, which was replaced in 1876 by the fourth and present one, a fine two-story building, with two rooms. The four school-houses were on four different lots, two located north of the State road and two south. The present teachers are W.E. and E. Loucks, both experienced educators and sons of the late Rev. Peter Loucks.

SHOUP’S MILL,an extensive steam flouring-mill, a frame building, three stories in height, is the first grist-mill erected here, and was built in 1881 by its proprietors, P.L. and J.B. Shoup, descendants of an old family, early settled in the township.

REAGANTOWN is a hamlet in the western part of the township, whose vicinity was early settled by the Suters, Smiths, Snyders, Lowes, McCurdys, Henkstellers, Reagans (from whom it took its name), Fosters. Here was the "Harmony" Presbyterian Church, erected in 1849, and the place of attendance on church worship by that denomination for miles around until 1879, when the congregation was absorbed into the Scottdale Church. Two miles south of it is the Wesleyan Chapel, near which the old families of Hixons, Espeys, Felgars, Steinmans, Houghs, Foxes, Kellys, Durstines, Hutchinsons, and Fretts reside.

HUNKER STATION is on the railroad just below the Hempfield township line, and is quite a shipping point.

"McKean’s Old Stand" is in the northwest part of the township, in a neighborhood early settled by the Nulls, Ruffs, Lowes, Bryans, Reagers, and Kellys.

THE SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD traverses the entire length of the township, and has been the means of adding largely to its wealth and population, and has stations at every necessary point to accommodate the rich mineral and agricultural productions produced in its limits.

West Overton, Pennsylvania
http://www.anthracitemaps.com/

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

THE OVERHOLT FAMILY (WEST OVERTON).

In 1800, Abraham Overholt came from Bucks County, where his ancestors had settled half a century before, and located where is now the village of West Overton. His wife was a Stauffer, by whom the following children were born: Henry, Jacob, Abraham, Martin, Christian S., John, died young, Annie, married to John Tintsman, and Elizabeth, married to John W. Frick.

I. Of these, Henry’s children were: 1, Sarah A., married to A.S.R. Overholt; 2, Benjamin F.; 3, Maria; 4, Abbie C.; 5, Abraham; 6, Henry C.; 7, Jennie C., married to Nathaniel Miles.

II. Jacob’s children were: 1, Maria; 2, Elizabeth; 3, Abraham; 4, Isaac; 5, Mary Ann; 6, Fenton; 7, Christopher; 8, Jacob Webster; 9, Emma Fox.

III. Abraham’s children were: 1, George [Karen's direct line]; 2, John; 3, Norman; 4, Mary.

IV. Martin’s children were: 1, Hudson; 2, James; Henry; 4, Elizabeth, married to Mr. Richey; 5, Ida.

V. Annie Tintsman’s children were: 1, Jacob O. Tintsman; 2, A. O. Tintsman, a coal king of Pittsburgh; 3, Henry O. Tintsman, of Mount Pleasant; 4, John, died in late war in the army; 5, Annie, married to Loren Leasure; 6, Emma, married to Dr. Kline, of Greensburg.

VI. Elizabeth Frick’s children were: 1, Maria, married to J.S.R. Overholt; 2, H. Clay Frick, a coal prince of Pittsburgh; 3, Annie, married to Mr. Braddock, merchant of Mount Pleasant; 4, Aaron; 5, Edgar; 6, Sallie.

VII. Christian S. Overholt’s children were: 1, Alice Carey; 2, Charles; 3, Elmore; 4, Mary, married to George McKean; 5, Annie; 6, William.

Jacob Overholt was a brother of Abraham, and came here from Bucks County about the time of the latter’s arrival, and located midway between Scottdale and West Overton. He was a noted veterinary surgeon in his day. He married Elizabeth Detwiler, by whom were born the following children: John D., Henry D., Annie, married to Abraham Sherrick, Jacob, Susan, married to Christian Stauffer, and Martin.

Of these the eldest, John D., married Elizabeth, daughter of Christian Stauffer, by whom the following children were born: Agnes, married to Abraham Bechtell; Jacob; Ann, married to Alexander H. Boyd; Elizabeth, Christian, John, and Aaron S.R., the last two being twins and the youngest.

Abraham Overholt established a small still on his farm in 1810, which used only a bushel amid a half of grain per day. Before 1859 it had been enlarged, but in that year the firm of A. & H. Overholt erected on the same site the present distillery. It is a brick structure, six stories in height, one hundred by sixty feet, with capacity for two hundred and fifty bushels daily. On the first addition, about 1830, to the establishment a flouring-mill was added and steam-power introduced. Both corn and rye whiskey are made, and the superiority of its brands of flour and whiskey has given the mills a great celebrity. They are now operated by A.C. Overholt & Co., who have one hundred and thirty coke-ovens just north of the village, of which sixty-two were started in 1873, and the others in 1878. These give employment to over a hundred men, and produce one hundred and eighty tons of coke daily. With the distillery is connected a large farm, on which is the elegant brick mansion in which A.S.R. Overholt resides, and which was built in 1838 by Abraham Overholt. The post-office was established in 1850, and since 1866 A.S.R. Overholt has been postmaster, his predecessor being Jacob O. Tintsman. The village was laid out and built by Abraham and Henry Overholt [his oldest son], and grew up settled by their employés. The first store was kept by Christian S. Overholt & Co., and the present one by A.C. Overholt & Co. The village is prettily located in a rich agricultural and coal region, and many of its residences are fine brick structures. This place owes its existence to the Overholt family, who early settled in and around it, and where their descendants are still very numerous, being intermarried with many of the neighboring families.

THE STONER FAMILY.

The ancestor of the, Stoner family in this county came from Switzerland in the middle of the last century, landed at Philadelphia, and settled in Chester County. He subsequently removed to Morrison’s Cove, in Bedford County. His son Christian, born in Chester County, came to East Huntingdon township in 1799 from Bedford County, where he had lived several years. Here, near Stonersville, he purchased five hundred acres of land, now in four farms. Tobias Landis now lives on the old Stoner homestead, the other three parts being owned by the grandsons of Christian, viz.: Adam Stoner, Christian Stoner, and Solomon B. Stoner, there being a few small subdivisions besides. He died in 1814, and his wife, Barbara, in 1816. Of his land when he came one hundred acres had been put in cultivation by previous owners, and had a cabin on it, the remainder being in woods. His neighbors were Abraham Ruth on the west, George Mumaw on southeast, and Rev. David Funk on the east. Abraham’s children were John, Abraham, Barbara, married to John Werts, Elizabeth, married to Christian Sherrick, Christian, Jacob, Daniel (the first born in this county, the others having been born before their parents’ arrival here), Henry, Anna, married to John Rudabaugh, and David. Of these the eldest, John, was born in June, 1787, and was married Oct. 11, 1811, to Magdalena Fox, daughter of Henry Fox. He died Aug 7, 1868, and his wife April 21, 1858, in her sixty-eighth year. Their children were Elizabeth, born 1814, and married to David Funk, grandson of the Mennonite preacher; Henry W. [Funk], born 1816; John H., born 1818; Mary, born 1821, and married to David Funk; she dying he married her sister Elizabeth; Jacob F., born 1823, Adam, born 1826; Christian F., born 1828; Anna, born 1830, and married to David Landis; and Magdalena, born 1833, and married to Rev. Reuben H. Bolton.

The locality settled by the Stoner family was early called "the Stoner settlement," and the name of Stonerville was given to the village (now a thriving town) in recognition of this family, so prominent in this region since 1799. Leuffer Station is on the land of Henry W. Stoner.

THE FOX FAMILY.

Henry Fox was born in Chester County in 1745, and early (in 1797) settled in this township, two and a half miles west of Mount Pleasant, and near the Stoners. He had two sons and several daughters. Mr. Fox’s selection of land, over three hundred acres, was ever considered the finest of the early purchases, being the clearest from the hollows and runs. His daughter Magdalena married John Stoner, and was the mother of the well-known citizen, Henry W. Stoner. Mr. Fox died July 25, 1824, aged seventy-nine years, and his wife, Mary, Aug. 30, 1834, aged eighty.

THE KLINE FAMILY.

John Kline, who had been a Revolutionary soldier, removed from Lebanon County when his son John was a small boy, and settled near Adamsburg, in Hempfield township, on Brush Creek. This son, John, moved to the manor near the church, where he died. John’s son, Joseph Kline, was born near Adamsburg, and came to New Salem in 1851, Where he has since resided. When a small lad, and plowing with his father’s hired man in a field adjoining the battle ground of Bouquette, he saw plowed up many Indian relics, and in one field found well-preserved hair of the Indians, that had lain covered up for over half a century, and was as fresh and flexible as when the Indians were buried.
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Residence Farm & Old Homestead of Rev. P. Loucks
Stonersville, Westmoreland County, PA
http://www.anthracitemaps.com/

THE LOUCKS FAMILY.

The Loucks Family in this county is descended from an ancestor who emigrated from Germany in 1759 and settled in Bucks County. From him sprang a grandson, Peter Loucks, who removed in 1800 and settled first just across Jacobs Creek in Fayette County, on a farm where now is McClure & Co.’s coke-works. Here he remained a year. He then purchased eighty acres of land, now a part of his grandson’s (Peter S. Loucks) place, of John Hugus, with a cabin on it, into which he moved. Two years later he bought another eighty-acre tract, included in the present town of Scottdale, of a Mr. Galloway. At that time an old house, stable, and blacksmith-shop were on this place, all standing on the site of the Methodist Episcopal Church lot. He had married in Bucks County Anna Overholt, by whom there were born the following children: Henry, Catharine, Jacob, Mary, and Martin, and those born after their arrival here were Sarah, married to Samuel Dillinger, John, Nancy, died young, and Peter, the latter living in Indiana. The original emigrant Loucks died about 1825, and his widow subsequently married Martin Stauffer.

Rev. Martin Loucks, who was only a year old when his parents came here, was born in 1798, and married Nancy Stauffer. He was a well-known Mennonite preacher, and preached at the old church in Stonersville. He died Nov. 7, 1869, aged seventy years, and his widow resides with her son, Peter S. Their children were Elizabeth, married to David F. Stoner and deceased; Jacob, Anna, Catherine, Abraham, Peter Stauffer, and John. In old times the nearest schoolhouse to the Loucks place was on the Overton farm, a mile distant, and was a stone, structure, octagon-shaped. The old Peter Loucks homestead of eighty acres is now included in the limits of Scottdale borough. John, second child of Peter Loucks, born here after his arrival from Bucks County, was the father of the late P. Loucks, who became an eminent minister of the Church of God denomination. The latter married the youngest daughter of John Fox, who moved to Westmoreland County when there was but one house where the town of Mount Pleasant now stands. Her mother, Frederica Carolina Sherbus, was from the canton of Kircheimlanden, Switzerland, and married Mr. John Fox in 1820. She died May 23, 1876, aged seventy-eight.

Rev. P. Loucks, had five children, two of whom, W.E. and E., are the teachers of the Stonersville schools.

Peter Loucks, the first of the name in the county, died July 10, 1825, aged sixty-four years, and his wife, Anna (Overholt), March 15, 1845, in her seventy-fifth year.

PETER STAUFFER LOUCKS.

Under the heading "The Loucks Family," a chapter which appears elsewhere in this volume, will be found a brief record of the immediate ancestry, etc., of Peter S. Loucks. The parentage of Mr. Loucks is therein noted, but is here repeated for the convenience of this sketch.

Mr. Loucks is the son of the late Rev. Martin Loucks, who died Nov. 7, 1869, in the seventy-first year of his age, and Nancy Stauffer (born Feb. 9, 1808), his wife, still living, and who is the daughter of the late Abraham and Elizabeth Myers Stauffer, natives of eastern counties of Pennsylvania, both of German descent. Abraham Stauffer died in Tyrone township, Fayette County, in 1855, at about sixty-one years of age. His wife, Elizabeth, died in Scottdale, Nov. 11, 1878, in the ninety-sixth year of her age. Martin Loucks and Nancy Stauffer were intermarried June 15, 1826.

Martin Loucks was brought up on the homestead farm, and was educated in the common schools of East Huntingdon township, and became a farmer, and continued such during life. He was reared under the religious instructions of the Mennonite Church, and some time after his marriage, at about the age of thirty years, he was chosen, according to the customs and rites of his church, a preacher, and fulfilled the duties of his office, which was an unsalaried one, during his life. His duties took him frequently into various parts of his own county and adjoining counties. Mr. Loucks was greatly beloved by his people. Though forbidden by the laws of his church to hold political office, he took interest in politics as a Whig and afterwards as an earnest Republican.

Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Loucks were the parents of eight children, five sons and three daughters, whose names are cited in the record above referred to. Of these children Peter Stauffer Loucks is the sixth in number, and was born May 3, 1841, on the old homestead farm of his grandfather and father, a beautiful spot, lying about fifty rods west of Jacobs Creek in East Huntingdon township, from the site of the house in which he was born and from his present residence near by a fine view of Chestnut Ridge and Laurel Hill being afforded.

Mr. Loucks was educated at home and in the common schools. His father was a great friend of education, and took pains to instruct his children at home, as well as to watch them when attending school, to see that they spent their time profitably and made progress in their studies. Indeed, he was exceedingly particular in the matter of the education, religious and literary, of his children. Peter continued attendance upon school in the winter season till about twenty-one years of age, and occupied himself on the farm under his father until, when about twenty-six years of age, he and his brother Martin were given by their father entire charge of the farm, which they conducted till after the death of the elder Mr. Loucks, whereafter, under the provisions of the father’s will, they came into possession of the farm, and Martin, after about two years, sold his interest to Peter and his sister Catharine, who now own the farm jointly. The farm is devoted to the common agricultural purposes and to the raising of stock for the markets. Mr. Loucks has paid more or less attention to the rearing of improved breeds of Durham short-horned cattle and the imported English breeds of draught horses.

A portion of Mr. Loucks’ farm, or about sixty acres thereof, has been laid out at different times into dwelling-house lots and sites for business houses, a considerable part of the most active or business portions of Scottdale now occupying the same.

In the spring of 1873 Mr. Loucks, in connection with his brothers and T.J. Larimer and William Leeper, under the firm-name of Loucks, Larimer & Co., established in Scottdale a planing-mill for the manufacture of all kinds of worked lumber necessary for building purposes, and took extensive contracts for building. After the death of Mr. Leeper in March, 1880, Mr. Loucks and his brother Jacob purchased the interests of all others in the concern, and carried on the business as the firm of P.S. Loucks & Co. till Jan. 1, 1882, when they leased the establishment to Ruth & Stoner, who now conduct the business. Mr. Loucks has actively engaged in promoting the interests of Scottdale and largely contributed to its rapid growth, and is the owner of several of the best buildings, dwellings, and business houses of that borough.

Mr. Loucks, with his brother Jacob, has since April, 1881, been engaged in the grain-shipping business, with Scottdale as the centre of operations, bringing grain from the West and elsewhere and distributing it to the East and various points. In politics Mr. Loucks is a Republican, but does not aspire to office, but has held borough and township offices.

May 29, 1878, Mr. Loucks married Miss Mary A. Boyd, daughter of George W. Boyd and Martha Smith, his wife, both of Fayette County, and descendants of the earliest settlers of that county. The issue of this marriage is one son, Arthur, born June 18, 1880.

COL. ISRAEL PAINTER.

Col. Israel Painter was born in Hempfield township, Westmoreland County, Pa., Nov. 11, 1810. He was of German descent on both his father’s and mother’s side. Jacob Painter, his grandfather, after marriage emigrated from Mecklenburg, Germany, and settled in Berks County, Pa. Here four sons and two daughters were born, viz.: Jacob, Michael, John, and Tobias, a daughter married to George Myers, and one married to Christopher Harrold. Jacob Painter and his wife died and were buried in Berks County. Jacob Painter, their eldest son, married a daughter of ----- Rapiere, who lived in Indiana County, and settled on a farm in Hempfield township, situated on the Big Sewickley Creek, eight miles south of Greensburg, which became known for many years as the "Judge Painter place," and now owned by David Fox. By his first wife he had seven children, viz.: Betsey, Rebecca, Catharine, Tobias, George, Elias, and -----. His first wife died, and was buried at Harrold’s Church. For his second wife he married Catharine, daughter of Christopher and Elizabeth (Mueller) Lobingier. By her he had ten children, viz.: Polly, John, Jacob, Christopher, George, Joseph, Benjamin, Susan, Israel, and Sophia.

Jacob Painter always lived on the farm on which he first settled. He built on the place a stone grist-mill, which he carried on in connection with his farming. He was an energetic, active business man, a member of the Legislature for several terms, justice of the peace for many years, was the Whig candidate for Congress against William Findley, and came within seventeen votes of being elected, and held the position of associate judge at the time of his death. He was a man of commanding presence, being about six feet in height, heavy set, and weighing about two hundred and twenty pounds. In personal appearance his son, Col. Israel Painter, is said to have resembled him.

He died at the age of fifty-nine, and was buried at Harrold Church. His widow, Catharine, survived him about thirty years, lived with her sons, Christopher and Israel, at the "Willow-Tree Farm," where she died, aged eighty-four, and was buried at Markle Cemetery. His daughter Betsey was wife of Gen. Joseph Markle, and mother of Gen. C.P. Markle, of "Millgrove."

From 1865 to the time of his death Col. Painter gave much attention to coal and coal lands. He was the first to introduce into the Eastern market Western Pennsylvania coal as a gas-coal, Eastern manufacturers of gas using up to that time an imported coal for that purpose. In company with John George, Jr., Col. Lewis McFarland, and others, he purchased large tracts of coal lands on the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad in North Huntingdon township, selling the coal to the Penn Gas-Coal Company and Westmoreland Coal Company.

In company with Gen. Herman Haught, John Derbyshire, H.N. Burroughs, S.B. and C.P. Markle, he bought and sold many hundred acres of coal lands in Sewickley township. In 1873 he built seventy-four coking ovens in Bull-skin township, Fayette County, and carried them on till 1879. He owned one hundred and seventy acres of coking coal lands near Mount Pleasant at the time of his death.

He was interested in contracts for the construction of sections of the Pennsylvania Railroad, of the Northwest Pennsylvania Railroad, also of the Pittsburgh and Erie and Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroads. He was a stockholder in the Mount Pleasant and Robbstown pike, also in the Youghiogheny Navigation Company. He was prime mover in the building of the Southwest Pennsylvania Railroad, also the Mount Pleasant and Broad Ford Railroad, and a director in both, as also in the Pittsburgh and Connellsville Railroad.

He was associated with Governor John W. Geary in contesting the will of Stephen Girard, in behalf of the heirs of the latter against the city of Philadelphia. He represented his district in the House of Representatives from 1846 to 1848; was canal commissioner from 1849 to 1852; was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention at Charleston, S.C., identifying himself with the Douglas wing of the party. He was at one time a candidate of his party for nomination to Congress, but was defeated in the convention by Hon. H.D. Foster.

His death was the result of an accident. By a fall a glass bottle was crushed in his hand, by which the latter was so badly cut and lacerated he survived the effect of it only ten days. He died on the 4th day of July, 1880. It has fallen to few men "to fill a larger space" in their locality than did Col. Israel Painter. His energy and will seemed inexhaustible. He was constantly on the alert. With him to think was to act. Difficulties and obstacles which would have overwhelmed and swamped most men only inspired in him renewed exertions. All his enterprises were conducted on a large scale. To figure in a small way with him was an impossibility. In his disposition he was wholesouled and genial, consequently few men commanded a wider or warmer circle of friends.
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[History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, A. Warner Co., Chicago; 1889; p. A660]

John W. Painter

JOHN W. PAINTER, distiller, Pittsburgh and Boston, was born in Westmoreland county, in 1839, and is a son of John and Harriet (Parks) Painter, of Lancaster county. His father was a native of New Jersey, settled in Westmoreland county about 1796, and followed farming as an occupation. William Parks, the father of Harriet Parks, was also an early settler in that county, and represented his county in the legislature for two terms. John W. Painter was educated at Beaver and Hayesville (Ohio) College. His wife is Isabella Cornell, daughter of Robert and Martha (Neely) Cornell, of this county, a native of Scotland. In 1867 Mr. Painter entered the firm of Joseph S. Finch & Co., of Pittsburgh. Mr. Finch died in 1884, and Mr. Painter purchased his interest in 1885. He associated with him J. G. Pontefract, the old firm name of Joseph S. Finch & Co. being retained. Mr. Painter established the famous brand of whisky known as "Golden Wedding Rye," and other famous brands. The distillery and warehouses belonging to this firm reach from Chestnut street to the Monongahela river, being 280 x 600 feet in dimensions. The warehouses, bonded and free, have a capacity of forty thousand barrels. The daily output of the distillery averages about four thousand gallons. Mr. Painter holds the office of postmaster at Boston, having been appointed in 1887.

Karen's Note: This J. G. Pontefract may be the James G. Pontefract who figured prominently in the undermining of the rights of the Overholt Family to their Broad Ford Distillery. See what happened in 1881, in my Timeline, and follow the story in Addenda, Part II.
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JOSEPH LIPPINCOTT.

The name Lippincott is, one of the oldest of local origin in England, and was derived from Lovecote, which is described in the Domesday Book or cencus, made by order of William the Conqueror, in 1086, of lands held by Edward the Confessor in 1041—66. This Saxon name implies that a proprietor named Love held the house, cote, and lands, hence called Lovecote, which name was probably already ancient. Surnames were not settled until about this date, and hence Lovecote, Loughwyngcote, Lyvenscott, Luffingcott, Luppingcott, through which variations it has descended to become fixed in Lippincott during the last two centuries, and is undoubtedly of great antiquity.

The family were granted eight coats of arms by the College of Heralds. One of them, belonging to the Wibbrey branch, and in the possession of Philip Luppingcott, Esq., of North Devonshire, England, in 1620, when visited by the Heralds, and was at that time already ancient, is thus described: "Per fesse, embattled gules and sable, three leopards, passant argent. Crest, out of a mural crown, gules, five ostrich feathers, alternately argent and azure. The motto, ‘Secundis dubiisque rectus,’ which may be thus translated, Upright in prosperity and adversity, or firm in every fortune."

The family in America are descended from Richard and Abigail, who removed from Devonshire, England, in 1639, and settled in Boston, New England. Having been excommunicated from the "church" at Boston for nonconformity in 1651 he returned with his family to England, and resided at Plymouth, and early thereafter became a member of the Society of Friends, then emerging from the various sects around them, and in consequence endured much persecution for the testimony of a good conscience.

In 1663 he returned to New England, and lived for several years in Rhode Island, and finally in 1669 established himself and family at Shrewsbury, Monmouth Co., N.J., where he died in 1683. His widow, Abigail, died in 1697, leaving a considerable estate. Richard Lippincott was the largest proprietor among the patentees of the new colony.

From their eldest son, Remembrance by name, descended Samuel, who in 1789 removed from New Jersey to Westmoreland County, Pa. One of his sons, James, was the father of twelve children, viz.: William, John, Jesse, Joseph, Samuel, Henry, Katherine (Mrs. Ulam), Sarah (Mrs. Cyrus P. Markle), Rachel (Mrs. Toliver), Harriet (Mrs. Hemingray and Mrs. Oliver Blackburn), Nancy (Mrs. William McCracken), Mary (Mrs. Clark). The maiden name of the mother of this numerous family was Zeigler. She came from the State of Delaware.

Joseph Lippincott was born near Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland Co., Pa., March 17, 1800; his whole life was passed in his native county and that of Allegheny. On the 20th of November, 1834, he was married to Eliza Strickler, who all through his life made him a loving, tender wife, and whose memory is dearly cherished by her children, relatives, and many of those to whom she ministered. In 1835 they went to Pittsburgh to live, where he, in connection with his brothers, William and Jesse, became proprietors of the Lippincott mills, now known as the Zug iron-mills. He remained in Pittsburgh until 1838, when he disposed of his interests and returned to Mount Pleasant, where for over twenty years he was a successful merchant. He had the confidence of the public to an almost unlimited extent, and as banks were scarce in those days he became a depository for moneys that at times reached a large amount.

About the year 1854 he engaged in the business of safe manufacturing in this city, the firm being Lippincott & Barr. The works were situated on Second Avenue, running through to First Avenue, on the site at present partly occupied by Messrs. C.P. Markle & Sons’ paper warehouse. In the year 1856 he also purchased an interest in the firm of Lippincott & Co., axe and shovel manufacturers. He retired from active business pursuits in 1859, residing in Mount Pleasant until 1865, when he removed to Pittsburgh.

In the year 1830 he was elected lieutenant-colonel of the Eighty-eighth Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, his commission bearing the signature of George Wolf, then Governor of the State. This is the only public position he ever held, his temperament being such that, while always taking an active interest in State affairs and wielding an undoubted influence, yet he did not court publicity.

The colonel, or Uncle Joe, as he was familiarly called, endeared himself to the people of Mount Pleasant and vicinity by his many acts of kindness. If there was a poor man in financial difficulties he was always sure of relief from him, and oftentimes it was voluntarily extended without being asked for. His generosity was unbounded, and to this day many of the older residents of that section recall instances of his unswerving friendship that do credit to his goodness of heart.

He together with his wife were members of the Baptist Church, and in his days of prosperity he was one of the largest contributors that there was in Western Pennsylvania to his church and her institutions. Having almost reached his eightieth year he died in Allegheny City on the 28th of August, 1879; his wife died on the 27th of April of the same year.

In summing up his character the writer of this sketch, his son, wishes to put on record his admiration of those virtues in the character of his father that were worthy of emulation. He was a country gentleman of simple tastes, but he was a man among men. His surviving children, who all reside in Pittsburgh, are Harriet E., Sarah A. (now Mrs. Henry H. Vance), Annie M., and Jesse H. Lippincott. Three children, Mary Jane, James, and William, died in their youth.

William J.K. Kline, M.D.

The father of Dr. Kline’s great-grandfather was Peter Kline, who lived in Lancaster County, Pa., in that part subsequently organized as Lebanon County, but whether there native born or an immigrant from Germany is not known. He was the father of three sons, the eldest of whom was named John. The other two died young, and their names were forgotten. John grew to manhood, and took part in the Revolutionary war, immediately under the command of Washington, at Valley Forge, and after a season of service in active duty was taken seriously ill, and upon recovery was transferred to the commissary department, and placed in charge of foraging parties, or troops the duty of which was to collect supplies for the army.

In the pursuance of this duty Kline and his men scoured the country seeking provisions, for which they proffered to pay, and which the rebels or patriots willingly sold or gave to the army. But there were numerous Tories in those days in the district of Kline’s operations, who believed that the war would terminate unfavorably to the rebel cause, and would not sell their goods or willingly contribute their quotas under levies made; saying to Kline, "Take: the king will repay us!" and he therefore did take. But the war terminating unfavorably to the patriotic Tories, they had no king to appeal to for reimbursement, and after the war they became the bitter foes of Kline and his comrades, and poured out their vengeance upon them by deeds of darkness; burning their houses and crops in the night season, etc.

Kline, soon after the war, married a Miss Mace, and settled upon a farm near Millersburg, Lebanon Co., which farm he inherited from his father. There he remained for some time, becoming the father of several children, the oldest of whom was called John. The Tories nursing revenge bided their time, but finally visited upon him persecutions in the shape of the malicious destruction of his crops, the burning of his outbuildings, etc., and made life there so uncomfortable that his wife became terrorized and entreated him to migrate westward and leave the farm in the possession of a tenant.

He resolved to go to Kentucky, and started thitherward on horseback, carrying his boy John before him, his wife and family also riding horseback, and thus they traversed the Allegheny Mountains. Reaching a point four miles west of Greensburg, near what is now called Grapeville, on their way to Fort Pitt, they found the road there forked, and pursued the branch which seemed the more travel-worn, but which, however, led not to Fort Pitt, but to the Manor settlement, as they found on inquiring of "a woman and another person," as the chronicler states, who were making hay in a meadow. One of them asked, "What course, my friends?" Kline informed her that he wished to go to Fort Pitt en route to Kentucky. She replied, "Why, my dear friends, have you not heard of the recent murders committed on the frontiers?" an Indian outbreak having then recently taken place. Kline said "No," and listened to the quick story of the slaughter of men, women, and children, and Mrs. Kline exclaimed, "If that’s the case I shall go no farther!" The next thing was what to do, and Kline learned that he could live on "the Painter improvement," and settle there in his trade as a weaver for the time being, and concluded to do so. He sold his horses for want of feed, but not without regret interposed by "little John," who "owned" one of the animals, a beautiful mare.

At that time Mr. Kline held a draft on a Mr. Boggs for £75, which was, however, lost by the failure of Boggs, a fact which, however, did not leave him entirely penniless. He loaned money to one John McKee, a frequent guest of his on his way to and from Philadelphia; and McKee becoming much in debt, conveyed to Kline in part payment seventy-five acres of land in the centre of what is now McKeesport. But McKee getting on his feet again, desired to purchase back the land, and Kline agreeing, McKee soon laid out the tract into dwelling-house lots, of which he profitably disposed, founding the city now bearing his name.

In addition to little John, whom we have noticed, the family of the elder John consisted of William, George, Samuel, Polly, and Catharine.

William settled and raised a family in Adamsburg, where he died, George died single, and Samuel went to the Southwest, and was never heard from by his Pennsylvania friends. The daughters married,— one Peter Kemerer, the other Daniel Kemerer,—one of whom eventually settled in Illinois, and the other in Iowa.

Mr. Kline was a conveyancer as well as farmer, etc., and made frequent journeys to Philadelphia to examine titles. At last he made a trip to this city, as is supposed, and never returned, and was never afterwards heard of by his family. His absence left his family embarrassed, and they finally lost the farm he had acquired in Manor District, and were thrown upon their own resources.

Little John, now well grown, provided for the family as well as he could, and they moved to and settled in the vicinity of Adamsburg, Westmoreland Co., where John cleared away the forest. He eventually married Miss Nancy Buchman, a native of Hagerstown, Md., by whom he had a large family, one of whom, John by name, was the father of Dr. Kline. He enjoyed the customary opportunities for education in those times, and grew up a farmer, subsequently settling in Manor District, Penn township. He was a man of great energy and industry, and was noted for his unswerving honesty in all the business affairs of life. In addition to his farm he became the owner of a mill property at Bouquet, and conducted the business of the mill for a time. He died when forty-six years of age, leaving a wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Knappenberger, a daughter of John Knappenberger, a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of the Manor District. The death of her husband devolved upon Mrs. Kline the care of the family. She was at that time a woman of great energy, as well as mental strength, and now, when almost an octogenarian, her mind is not only unimpaired but bright as in youth. With rare tact, good judgment, and the exercise of the Christian virtues, she reared her family well, always commanding their love.

The family comprised ten children. The first was Hezekiah Joseph, who married, settled in Illinois, and died, leaving one son, now a resident of California, he completing the Western journey of the Klines, which was arrested in the person of his great-grandfather, compelled to settle in Westmoreland County, as related above. The second child was Hannah, deceased; the third, William J.K.; the next, Nicholas, a surgeon dentist by profession, now residing in Scottdale; the next, Mary Ann, married to David Snyder, and residing on the old homestead; the next, Henry, who entered the army during the Rebellion, and while faithfully serving his country died at Newbern, N.C., in 1864, at about twenty-one years of age. Being drafted for the war, and some of his friends volunteering to take his place, he said, "No; I recognize this as a proper call of my country, and I will let no other perform the duty which belongs to me to fulfill."

The next in order of the family is Lydia, wife of Cyrus J. Snyder, residing in Penn township, on her grandfather Knappenberger’s old farm; the next, Amos, who after a thorough education in the select schools and academy in Westmoreland County took a course in and graduated from the Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N.Y., and is now associate editor of the Westmoreland Democrat. The next is Alpheus, who graduated from Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pa., studied divinity in the theological seminary of that place, and is now a minister of the Reformed Church. Jacob, the last, died in infancy.

Dr. William J.K. Kline was brought up on the homestead farm, attended the common and select schools, Glade Run Academy, and subsequently graduated from Jefferson College, at Cannonsburg, in the class of 1860. During his senior years in college Dr. Kline pursued the elective study of law. His health being at that time quite broken, he spent some time in the oil regions, at the outbreak of the oil excitement, hoping thus to recover his health, but without much avail. Leaving the oil regions he entered the office of Dr. H.G. Lomison, of Greensburg, and with him read medicine, matriculated at Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, took a course of lectures, and then entered Turner Lane Military Hospital, in that city, as a cadet, and subsequently completed his medical course at Long Island College Hospital, and graduated therefrom in 1864.

The battle of Gettysburg being then in progress he proceeded to Harrisburg with the intention of entering a surgical corps, passed examination by the State Medical Board, and was assigned to duty, and a large number of the wounded having been shipped to Harrisburg, he and Dr. J.S. King organized in that city the Walnut Street Hospital, of which they continued in joint charge for the period of nine months, at the end of which the emergency under which the hospital was organized was over. Near the close of his engagement there Dr. Kline contracted typhoid fever, which unfitted him for military duty, and on recovery went into private practice at Irwin Station, Westmoreland Co., where he followed his profession for some years, being a portion of the time assistant surgeon, and during the absence of Dr. Lomison, the surgeon, in Europe, the acting surgeon for the Westmoreland Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.

In 1868 Dr. Kline married Miss Emma Tinstman, daughter of the late John Tinstman [and Anna Overholt, daughter of Abraham Overholt and Maria Stauffer], of Fayette County, Pa. In 1868-69 he took an extra course of medical lectures at the Be1levue Hospital Medical College, New York. In 1871 he removed to Greensburg, where he practiced his profession. He is one of the proprietors of the Westmoreland Democrat, and for the first few years of his residence in Greensburg shared with his copartners the editorship of that paper, in addition to his professional practice. In 1876, Dr. Kline was elected a member of the State Legislature, and served in the sessions of 1877-78.
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Dr. Nicholas L.K. Kline.

Dr. Nicholas L.K. Kline, surgeon dentist of Scottdale, is a son of the late John Kline, of Penn township, and was born Nov. 1, 1836, and is of German descent. A record of his ancestry in this country for several generations may be found in the interesting biographical sketch of W.J.K. Kline, M.D., in the Greensburg chapter of biographies in this volume.

Dr. Kline was brought up on the homestead farm, and was educated in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen years made a trip at coal-boating from Pittsburgh to New Orleans, after which he entered Leechburg Academy, in Armstrong County, which institution he attended in summer sessions. In the winter he taught school in his native township, commencing his career as a school-teacher in 1857. He followed school-teaching for four years. In 1861—62, Dr. Kline was occupied in the oil regions in Venango County, Pa., in company with his brother, now Dr. Kline, of Greensburg, operating in oil.

Returning from the oil regions he went to the study of dentistry in the office of the late Dr. A.E. Fisher, of Greensburg, where he remained for about two years, and then located at Irwin Station for the practice of his profession. When the doctor settled at Irwin it contained only ten houses, but the enterprise of the doctor and others so improved it that in a few years it was incorporated as a borough, the doctor being one of the incorporators.

In 1867 he, in company with his brother Amos, established there a drug-store, which, together with his dental business, he conducted for some years. Finally he sold his interest in the drug-store, and after remaining a year longer at Irwin moved to Scottdale, August, 1873, where he still resides, practicing dentistry, and enjoying a good practice. He is devoted to his profession, and conscientious in his work as well as skillful. Those once employing him remain his friends, and re-employ him on occasion. As an evidence of his sedulous industry it may be mentioned that he has without assistance manufactured over three thousand sets of teeth aside from all his other professional work.

When he settled at Scottdale that now flourishing borough was a new place, almost as fresh and youthful in appearance as a Western city on the prairie when just staked out and boasting only the cabins of the first wagon-load of "colonists." Scottdale at that time had but five dwelling-houses. The building of the rolling-mill had just commenced. Dr. Kline was one of the incorporators of the borough, and soon after its incorporation was elected the first justice of the peace of the place. He served as such for five years and two months. He has always taken an interest in the improvement of the borough, and has been one of the Council. Dr. Kline is a member and elder of the Reformed Church, and was one of the eleven founders of the church in Scottdale, and together with his wife, who for about seven years prior to the present has been the organist thereof, has taken an active interest in its growth and maintenance.

Jan. 17, 1865, Dr. Kline married Miss Elizabeth Boice, of Greensburg, whose maternal great-grandfather, Richard Hardin, was an Englishman by birth, but a soldier on the side of the colonies in the Revolutionary war. Her grandfather, also Richard Hardin, was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Boice were the parents of nine children. Mr. Boice died in 1843 at the age of thirty-six years. Some years after his death his widow married Mr. Joseph Walter, of Greensburg, who is now dead. Mrs. Walter is living in Greensburg, and is seventy years of age.
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[History of the County of Westmoreland, by George D. Albert; L. H. Everts & Co., Philadelphia; 1882; pp. 702-710.]

SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP

ERECTION, BOUNDS, ETC.

SEWICKLEY TOWNSHIP was erected in 1835, and was named after the Big Sewickley Creek, that flows along its southwestern boundary. It is bounded north by North Huntingdon, east by Hempfield, south by South Huntingdon, and west by the Youghiogheny River.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Among the earliest settlers were Gaspar Markle, Judge Jacob Painter, Anthony Blackburn, the Carothem, Carnahans, Campbells, Biggses, Dr. Lewis Marchand, John Milligan, Capt. William Pinkerton, James Milligan, the Gilberts, McGrews, and others. James Milligan, yet living [circa 1882], is ninety-one years of age, and has voted for sixty-five consecutive elections. Capt. William Pinkerton was six feet four inches in height, and a man of immense muscular power. Anthony Blackburn, who had settled here about 1778, removed to Canada, taking with him a large family, several of whom had been schoolmates of Gen. Joseph Markle. One of these sons returned ten or twelve years afterwards, and resided in this neighborhood. The sons who remained in Canada were drafted and served in the British army in the war of 1812 on the Northwestern frontier. After the war was over one of them paid a visit to his relations in Westmoreland County, and here stated that a few days before the commencement of the siege of Fort Meigs he was lying with a company of Indians in ambush near the fort; that while there Gen. (then captain) Joseph Markle and his orderly sergeant, John C. Plumer, and a part of his troop passed by; that he, Blackburn, recognized his old acquaintances, Markle and Plumer, and consequently permitted them to pass without firing upon them. This recognition saved the lives of all the party.

THE MARKLE FAMILY.

The progenitor of the Markle family in Westmoreland County was John Chrisman Markle [Johann Christian Merklin (1678-1766)], who was born in Alsace, on the Rhine, in 1678. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, in 1685, he fled from Germany, passing down the Rhine, and settled in Amsterdam, Holland. Here he married Jemima Weurtz (or Weurtzen), a sister of the admiral of that name. In 1703 he came to America, and settled at Salem Springs, Berks Co., Pa., where he purchased fifteen hundred acres of land of the Penns. He was by trade a coach-maker, and he there established a wagon-shop, blacksmith-shop, and grist-mill.

His, son Gaspard was born in Berks County in 1732, and married Elizabeth Grim, and in 1770 removed to Westmoreland County. Shortly afterwards his wife died, and he returned to Berks County, where he married Mary Roadarmel, whom he brought to his home in this county. His residence here was the post of refuge to which the settlers fled for succor and safety. He and Judge Jacob Painter entered large tracts of land that extended several miles up and down Sewickley Creek. Several of his sons served in the desultory wars growing out of the incursions of the Indians, one of whom, George, was especially distinguished at the defense of Wheeling. George, his nephew, was in the Revolution and at the battle of Brandywine, and his brother Jacob was in the naval service under Commodore Barney, and on board, "Hyder Ally" at the capture of "Gen. Monk." His brother-in-law, Joseph Roadarmel, was at the battle of Long Island, in August, 1776, where he was wounded, captured, and taken prisoner on the British ship of war in New York harbor, on which he died of wounds received in battle. Another member of the Markle family, Abraham Markle, removed from Germany, and settled in Canada, and became a delegate in the Provincial Parliament. In the war of 1812 he came to the United States, and became colonel in the American army. The British government confiscated all his property in Canada, but the United States gave him four sections of land near Fort Harrison, in Indiana.

Gaspard Markle in 1772 erected a grist-mill on Sewickley, which traverses his ancient homestead. Here was made some of the first flour manufactured west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was transported in flat-boats by Jacob Yoder, a citizen of Reading, to New Orleans. So much consequence was attached to this feat that the citizens of Spencer County, Ky., where he afterwards lived and died, erected a monument to him to commemorate the fact. All the salt used was transported by the Markles (Gaspard’s sons) from Eastern cities on pack-horses, the intervening country being an almost unbroken forest and impassable with wagons. Of course taverns and habitations, if any, were few and far between, and the caravans of packers were compelled to carry with them from home the necessary provender for the whole journey. But often the weary packer was turned out to graze on the mountains, or in the rich valleys which diversified and divided them, while the rider himself reposed under the shadows of the overhanging forest. His son, Gen. Joseph Markle, was born Feb. 15, 1777, and was the most daring of all the packers over the mountains.

List of Sources

(1) History of the County of Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, edited by George Dallas Albert; L. H. Everts & Co., Philadelphia; 1882.
(2) History of Fayette County, by Franklin Ellis; L. H. Everts & Co., Philadelphia; 1882.
(3) History of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, A. Warner Co., Chicago; 1889; p. A660.
(4) Memoirs of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania: Personal and Genealogical, Vol. 2; Northwestern Historical Assoc., Madison, Wis.; 1904; pp. 239-240.
(5) A Genealogical Record of the Descendants of Martin Oberholtzer, by Rev. A. J. Fretz; Press of The Evergreen News, Milton, New Jersey; 1903.
(6) Along the Banks of Jacobs Creek, compiled by Winifred Paul, Mennonite Publishing House, Scottdale, PA.
(7) The Oberholtzer Book: A Foundation Book of Oberholtzer Immigrants and Unestablished Lines, compiled & edited by Barbara B. Ford, The Overholser Family Association, Wallingford, PA.
(8) John Pritiskutch Reproductions Web Site: http://www.anthracitemaps.com/
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